Local action

The way that Local Agenda 21 principles have been successfully
embraced in both the developing and the industrialized world is a powerful
encouragement for decentralization. However, decentralization to the municipal
level has not always increased policy effectiveness, particularly in low
and middle-income countries. This is because:

local democracy is often lacking;

responsibilities among different authorities overlap;

power and control over resources are often retained by higher levels
of government, including the ability to raise revenues; and

local technical and institutional capacity is weak and affected by
inefficient local governance.

Local measures are especially important to support the fight against
poverty. As the scenarios in Chapter 4 have shown, the more desirable
outcomes have involved rather than ignored individuals and local communities,
which must be enabled to participate fully in decision-making affecting
access to and management of common environmental assets and services.
For this to happen, strong democratic local institutions are essential.

Ways to strengthen local action

Integrate Local Agenda 21s into urban politics and policies
while respecting their consultative and participatory nature

Create awareness and ownership over the local environment (whether
rural or urban) and its links to the global environment among
the general public

Create opportunities for public involvement in decisionmaking
on local environmental issues, and support community rights to
own and care for the land their members inhabit and the resources
they use